Anicetus was pope from about 154 to about 167 (the Vatican's list cites 150 or 157 to 153 or 168). He was a Syrian from Emesa. According to Irenaeus, it was during his pontificate that the aged Polycarp, a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, visited the Roman Church. Polycarp and Anicetus discussed the celebration Easter. Polycarp and his Church of Smyrna celebrated Easter on the fourteenth day of Nisan, which coincides with Pesach. The day of the week was not important in the East. On the other hand, the Roman Church celebrated Easter on Sunday—the weekday of Jesus' resurrection. The two did not agree on a common date, but Anicetus permitted Polycarp and the Smyrnan Church to retain the date to which they were accustomed. The controversy was to accelerate and grow heated in the course of the following centuries. The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Catholic Church. ... Events Anicetus becomes pope (approximate date) Anicetus meets with Polycarp of Smyrna to discuss the Computus. ... Events Germanic tribe Marcomanni waged war against the Romans at Aquileia Change of era name from Yanxi to Yongkang of the Chinese Han Dynasty King Chogo of Baekje waged war against Silla in Korean peninsula. ... For other uses, see number 150. ... Events Births Deaths Categories: 157 ... For other uses, see number 153. ... Events Change of Han Huandi to Han Lingdi of Han Dynasty; first year of Jianning era. ... Emesa was an ancient city on the Orontes River in Syria. ... Saint Irenaeus (c. ... Polycarp of Smyrna (martyred in his 87th year, ca. ... Categories: Saints | Ancient Roman Christianity | Christianity-related stubs ... Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year, observed in March, April, or May to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after his death by crucifixion (see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year around AD 30-33. ... Quartodecimanism (fourteenism) was the practice of fixing the date of Easter (in the Bible called Pesach) to the 14th day of Nisan in the Bibles Hebrew Calendar which, according to the Gospels, was the time Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. ... Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah (פסח pesaḥ), is a Jewish holiday (lasting seven days in Israel and among some liberal Diaspora Jews, and eight days among other Diaspora Jews) that commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt; it is also observed by some Christians to... // Jesus, or Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ, is Christianitys central figure, both as Messiah and as God incarnate. ... This article is about the religious meaning of the word Resurrection. For other meanings see Resurrection (disambiguation). ...

The Christian historian Hegesippus also visited Rome during Anicetus' pontificate. This visit is often cited as sign for the early importance of the Roman See. Hegesippus (ca 110 A.D. - ca 180), was a Christian chronicler of the early Christian church and writer countering heresies. ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ...

Anicetus was the first pope to condemn heresy by forbidding Montanism. He also actively opposed the Gnostics and Marcionism. According to Liber Pontificalis, Anicetus decreed that priests are not allowed to have long hair (perhaps because the Gnostics wore long hair.) Anicetus is reported to have suffered martyrdom. April 16, 17 and 20 are all cited as the date of his death, but April 17 is celebrated as his memorial or feast day. Details relating to the type of his martyrdom are unknown. Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the ‘catholic’ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. ... -Montanism was an early Christian sectarian movement of the mid-2nd century A.D., named after its founder Montanus. ... Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D. General characteristics The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνῶσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden mysticism (esoteric knowledge) that only a few possess. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Marcion_of_Sinope#Teachings. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ...

Pius I was pope, perhaps from 140 to 154, though the Vaticans Annuario Pontificio (2003) lists 142 or 146 to 157 or 161. ... For a graphical representation of this list, see list of popes (graphical). ... Soter, sometimes known as the Pope of Charity, was pope from 166 to 174 (the Vatican cites 162 or 168 to 170 or 177). ...